Life for locals of Sagteng Gewog in Trashigang has become a lot easier thanks to the new gewog centre road. The 11-kilometre road was opened only nine months ago, and locals say it has benefitted them immensely.
In the past, residents of Sagteng had to travel for more than three hours on foot to reach the nearest road at Thrag Thri. And locals say it was difficult especially when someone was sick.
“In the past, when we had a meeting here in the gewog, those from Joenkhar had to walk for a day to attend the meeting. But now if they start early, people can reach here by 9:00 and attend the meeting. We don’t have to struggle like before,” said Pema Drakpa, from Sagteng in Trashigang Dzongkha.
“Our parents suffered a lot; they had to spend 2 – 3 days to reach Sagteng from Phongmed with their horses. But now it has become easier, even doing business has become easy thanks to the road,” added Dawa Chezom, also from Sagteng.
“Thanks to His Majesty The King we now have electricity and road access. We feel very lucky, now we don’t have to use our yaks and horses to travel and transport our things. Travelling has now become very easy,” Sangay Wangdi, also from Sagteng, said.
Works to clear the road began in 2015 and it was completed in the 2018- 2019 financial year. It was constructed at a cost of around Nu 109 M.
Sonam Darjay